August 2009

The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department will offer a variety of programming for children and adults at the Alki Community Center and Alki Bathhouse this fall.
 
CHILDREN’S PUPPET THEATER 

The area’s best puppet entertainers are coming to Alki Bathhouse on Saturdays. Mark your calendar so you won’t miss these outstanding performances.

All performances begin at 1 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale at Alki Community Center, 5817 S.W. Stevens St., or by calling (206) 684 -7430. This program is appropriate for children ages 1 and older.

Location: Alki Bathhouse, 2701 Alki Ave. S.W.
Cost: $5 per person 

Saturday, Sept. 19: CLAY MARTIN PRESENTS:"THE MATCHBOX AND OTHER TALES"

Saturday, Oct. 24: PENNY'S PUPPETS PRESENTS: "MOTHER GOOSE ON THE LOOSE"
 
ALLEYOOP STORYTELLER

Join Alleyoop for this one-time-only family experience for free. Enjoy music, games, stories, and puppets with one of Seattle’s best children’s entertainers. This show is appropriate for children ages 3 to 8.


Location: Alki Community Center, 5817 S.W Stevens St.
Date: Thursday, Sept. 24
Time: 1 p.m.
 

Well over 100 friends, customers, and family attended a memorial for Phoenecia Restaurant owner Hussein Khazaal Friday night, Aug. 14. Khazaal passed away in his sleep one week prior. (See previous coverage here.)

The tribute took place on Alki Beach, just two blocks from his popular Middle Eastern restaurant. Khazaal was born and raised in southern Lenanon.

Khazaal's son William, his daughters Sonya and Nadia, in-laws and admirers recounted stories about their father that impacted their lives in positive ways, on a stage at the well-organized gathering of sweetness and sorrow.

Nadia recalled her father's reaction once she earned her masters degree.

"He told all the customers 'My daughter is now a doctor!' He tended to exaggerate at times," said Nadia with tears and a smile.

William recalled a customer entering the Phoenecia who appeared somewhat bedraggled.

Three Ballard-area shipyards received federal stimulus funds set apart for shipyards by the Obama administration.

Lake Union Drydock Co., Foss Maritime Company and Kvichak Marine Industries Inc., all members of the North Seattle Industrial Association, were awarded Small Shipyard grants July 9.

Eugene Wasserman, president of the North Seattle Industrial Association, said in an email he is proud of the shipyards honored, though he regrets that Ballard's Pacific Fisherman did not receive one.

"These grants demonstrate the Obama administration's commitment to the maritime businesses in our area," Wasserman said in the email. "We share their commitment. We can only hope the Obama administration's support is followed by local support for our maritime businesses."

Foss received $621,761, Kvichak received $1,138,602 and Lake Union Drydock received $184,217.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that 67 U.S. shipyards will receive grants totaling $98 million in 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for improvements to shipyard equipment and infrastructure, as well as training for employees.

Since 2002, Girls on the Run of Puget Sound has operated an after-school prevention program for third through fifth grade girls throughout the region and this year it finally comes to West Seattle with two new programs; one at Pathfinder Alternative School and another at Hiawatha Community Center starting Sept. 28.

Kerin Brasch, executive director of the local chapter of the non-profit group, said Girls on the Run is an after school program that combines physical activity with self-esteem building, "life lessons," aimed at preparing young girls for the challenges they will likely face in middle school.

"It's more than running," she said.

The mission, said Brasch is to "use the power of running to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living."

The curriculum centers around instilling independence and confidence in girls through activities originally developed by Molly Barker in 1996 in Charlotte, N.C.

The Old Pequliar tavern will be hosting its second annual “Pig and Pipes” Pig Roast Fundraiser to benefit the Seattle Fire Department’s Seattle’s Bravest Charity on Saturday, Aug. 22.

Located at 1722 N.W. Market St., this year's fundraiser will feature the Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums Corps, who will perform with kilts and bagpipes, along with The Raybone Experience beginning at noon.

“It started like this, the firemen, the ones that wear kilts, have shown up a couple of times here,” Gaby Guarneri-Rodolso, manager of The Old Pequilar said. “So, I called them last year and asked if they’d show up for St. Patrick’s Day.”

As a thank you for that free performance, Guarneri-Rodolso wanted to repay them.

“Because they did that, I wanted to give something back to them,” she said. “We do the charity for them and we have raised more money than they have ever gotten in past years.”

Putting a lot more work in this year’s celebration, Guarneri-Rodolso said they are buying more pig, have made posters and are making T-shirts to support the firemen.

According to the Seattle School District, this year marks the first time that Seattle students’ scores were at or above the state averages in 19 out of 20 tested subjects and grades for the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) exam.

More than 94 percent of the Class of 2009 passed the state requirements, the district announced today.

Most large urban school districts typically perform below state averages.

In 2009 across all grades tested, Seattle exceeded the state average by 5.2 points in math, 1.9 points in reading, 4.1 points in writing, and 3.5 points in science. Seattle scores were slightly below the state average in tenth grade writing.

“I am very proud to see the hard work of our students, staff, families, principals and teachers recognized in the ongoing increase in WASL scores made in all grades,” said Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson. “Gains of this magnitude are only achieved as a result of years of focus and effort by a dedicated team and strong leadership throughout the district."

The chronicles of the hard-working West Seattle All-Stars in 2009 state Little League Majors (ages 11-12) tournament action came to an abrupt and disappointing conclusion last Thursday at the cozy confines of Art Mikelsen Field in a 12-11 loser-out setback at the hands of District 8 titleist Richmond.

Trailing 12-11 in the top of the sixth inning, the battling West Siders mounted a thrilling charge with two outs. Kevin Simmons was on first after a fielder's choice ground out before a hard-hit ground ball from the bat of Cody Jones bounced off the umpire, creating a runners on first and third situation.

Griffin Bills then rocketed a grounder to the right side that would have gone through to score the deadlocking run if the ball had not spun into the runner going from first to second base. As an interference third out, the run was called off due to the end of the game.

West Seattle went digging for a win last Wednesday at Art Mikelson Field, but only unearthed a series of goose eggs in a four-inning, 12-0, mercy-rule shortened loss to District 12 Pasco National to drop into the loser-out bracket of the 2009 Washington state Little League 11-12-year-old baseball tournament.

"They pretty much won it in the first inning," said West Seattle All-Star manager John Mackenzie. "He pitched a gem."

Pasco pitcher Austen Clarke was on fire and it had nothing to do with the 103-degree heat.

Dominating batters from the start, Clarke pitched a no-hitter and was two walks away from a perfect game as he struck out 10 batters out of a possible 12 outs.

Izac Bauer walked with one out in the second inning and advanced to second base on a wild pitch while Griffin Bills drew a walk with two outs in the fourth inning as the only West Side base runners.

"I used a fast ball, a curve ball from twelve o'clock to six o'clock, a slider and a change up to keep them off balance," said the Tri-Cities athlete. "My mom was at the game and I was really excited to pitch in front of her."

Loudly resonating long balls left the launching pad early before courageous pitching performances did the rest for the West Seattle Little League Majors All-Stars at the state baseball tournament on Sunday, July 26.

McNeil Fulmore, Marco Calderon and David Meehan each discharged solo home runs while Cody Jones, Izac Bauer and Calderon combined to hold off the opponent as District 7 West Seattle drained District 6 Salmon Creek 5-3 on a hot Sunday afternoon at Art Mikelson Field to gain a Wednesday quarterfinal berth.

"I'm glad we could win this type of game," said West Seattle manager John Mackenzie."Marcus was just lights out and the defense was tough."

Fulmore cracked the scoring column for the West Siders in the first inning when he blasted a 1-1 pitch from Salmon Creek starter Dylan Lewis over the fence in right centerfield.

"I felt relieved when he threw it right down the middle,' he stated. "It lifted everybody up."

In the West Seattle third, Calderon delivered a 230 foot homer directly over the centerfield fence for a 2-0 edge.

Two championship organizations entered the 2009 Washington 11-12-Year-Old Little League Majors state tournament on hot streaks before the District 7 West Seattle Little League All-Stars chilled District 3 Centralia with a 13-5 opening round conquest at Art Mikelsen Field on a warm and muggy Saturday, July 25.

"I was afraid of a letdown after all we went through at district," said West Seattle manager John Mackenzie. "It was nice to score in the first (inning). The keys were the back-to-back doubles. We rolled after that. We had a couple of good defensive plays by second baseman Alex Mackenzie and an amazing 11-pitch at bat by Kevin Simmons."

West Seattle rapidly rolled to the deciding tallies en route to rotating the Hub City boys into the loser-out bracket.

After capturing a 2-0 first inning lead on a wild pitch and passed ball, the West Siders devastated District 3 with a stunning second inning barrage.